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Richard Gray, widely recognized by his moniker Levelord, has died at the age of 68. Apogee Entertainment confirmed the passing of the influential level designer, honoring his significant contributions to the industry.
Gray gained prominence for his work on the 1996 title Duke Nukem 3D. Apogee founder Scott Miller noted that he originally recruited Gray in 1994 after being impressed by his custom Doom levels.
Beyond his initial success, Gray co-founded Hipnotic Interactive, which later became Ritual Entertainment. His professional portfolio included credits on titles such as Quake: Scourge of Armagon, Sin, and Star Trek: Elite Force 2. He is also remembered for creating the hidden "You're not supposed to be here" Easter egg in Duke Nukem 3D.
Industry figures have shared tributes, with Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski stating that Gray helped pave the way for future environment designers. Slipgate Ironworkers CEO Frederik Schreiber described him as an exceptionally kind individual. No cause of death has been disclosed.
